Shaft positioning device



July 14, 1931. J. A. WINTROATH ,3 4

SHAFT POSITIONING DEVICE Fi-led June 1, 1925' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- July 14, 1931.

J. A. WINTROATH SHAFT POSITIONING DEVICE Fi led June 1, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 //v I/E/VTOR: (Tor/NA. M/vTR ,TH,

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Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STA-res Jenna. wmraoa'rn, on LOS ANGELES, oAmroammassrenoamo :ennntnss PUMP COMPANY, or Los AneELns, muronman conroan'rron or CALIFORNIA SHAFT rosrrronrne nnvion Application' filed June 1,

nected to a pump head. Impeller sections of the pump section are connected to a pump shaft which extends through the column pipe into the pump head. On the head casting of the pump head there is supported a drive motor. The rotor shaft'of this motoris drivably coupled to the upper end of the pump shaft. It is necessary to adjust the positions of the impeller sections in the pump section of the pump so that they willoperate freely 2.0 without engaging'stationary parts' This adustment is accomplished by moving the pump shaft in axial direction. In the direct connected pumps of the character of my invention, the motor shaft cannot be moved;

25 therefore, the pump'shaft-must'bemoved relative thereto. In the present type of pump it is quite difficult to get at thepump shaft in order to accomplish an adjustment thereof.

It is an object of my invention to provide a direct conneced pump head having a novel adjustment means.

Another object of my inventlon 1s to provide a pump head of the character mentioned having a novel adjustment means which may :35 be operated'from the upper end of the pump head above they motor. Such arrangement renders it very easy to adjust the axial position of the pump shaft. I

A. stillfurther object of my invention is to provide a shaft adjustment means of the char- .acter mentioned which may be accurately ad justed and which may be locked in a'desired position.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a novel force feed lubricating system.

It is an additional objectof the invention to provide a lubricating system of this character which operates b centrifugal actionpj 60 vOtheri obj ects an the particular advan- 1925." Serial No; 34,136.

tages thereof be made evident herein-y after. I i 7 "Referring to the two sheets of drawingsin which I illustrate a preferred embodiment 'of my invention and which are solely for the. purposes of illustration,

, Fig. 1 is. a ve'rticalsectional view through a pump head embodylng the features of my invention.

Fig. 2. I

Fig; 5 isa section taken on the line 55 of Fi 2. I r

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 6-45 of Fig. 5. y

F 1g. 7 isa fragmentary view showing another form of attachment member of my invention. I

1 The form of my invention shown in the drawings comprises a pump head 11 having a bodycasting 12 which is secured to a base flanged?) by suitable cap screws 14. A column pipe 15 is threadedly secured at 16 to the'flange 13 in communication with a-chamber 1701 the body 12, to which body'there is connected adisch'arge pipe 18. Concentrically with the column pipe 15 is a bearing chamber member 20 which is supported by the body 12 at 21 and which is positioned directly above "the chamber 17 of the body 12. The vupper part of an oil tube .22, through which a pump shaft 23 extends, projects through the chamber 17 and is threadedly secured at25 to a gland 26. The gland 26 compresses packing .27 around theupper end of the oil tube 22in. order to provide a tight seal at this point. A spindle 30 extends into abearing' chamber 31 provided by the bearing chamber member 20. An inner race 1330f the radial bearing 34 surrounds a cylindrical face 35 of the spindle 30 and engages an annular face 36. An outer race 37 of the radial bearing; 34 contacts a cylindrical face of theb'earing member 20, as shown. An in- ]ner race 40 of a thrust bearing 11 engages a lower face'ofa spindle sleeve 42 by which Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional outer race 44 of the thrust bearing 41 rests on an annular shoulder 45 formed in the bearing chamber 31. The radial bearing 34 takes all of the-radial strains, whereas the thrust bearing 41 carries the weight of the pump.

A cylindrical cavityr46 is formed in the lower end of the spindle 30 into which an upper end 47 of the pump shaft 23 extends.

The pump shaft 23 is keyed to the spindle 30 by a key 49. This key 49 prevents relative rotation between the shaft 23 and the spindle 30, but permits relative axial movement between these parts.

An annular ledge 50 of a rotor 51 is secured to a ring flange 52 formed at the upper end of the spindle 30 by cap screws 53. A stator 55 surrounds the rotor 51. This stator 55 is carried by a stator frame 56 which is secured to a motor frame 57 carried by the'basev 13. A top motor frame 58 is supported by the stator frame 56, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

An attachment member in the formof a ring 60 extends into an annular channel 61 formed near the upper end 47 of the shaft 23. This ring 60is made in two parts 63 to permit its placement around the shaft 23. As shown in Fig. 6 the ring 60 has lugs 64 and 65 through which screws 66 extend for securing the parts 63 together. The lower ends 67 of supporting rods 68 are threadedly secured to the ring 60. These supporting rods 68 extend through longitudinal openings 69 formed in the spindle 30. The upper ends 7 O of the supporting rods 68 extend through openings 71 formed in a lift member or lift nut 73 which is positioned above the spindle 30. Nuts 74 are threaded on the upper ends of the supporting rods 68 for securing them to the lift nut 73. Threadedly extended through a central threaded opening 76-of the lift nut 73 is an adjustment screw 77. The lower end 78 of the adjustment screw 77 is conical and rests in a conical recess 79 formed in the upper face of the spindle 30. A castellated portion 80 is provided by the lift nut 73 having slots 81 through which a cotter key 82 may, be extended for locking the adjustment screw 77 against rotation relative to the lift nut 73, this cotter key 82 extending through an opening 83 formed in the adj ustment screw 77. Studs or clamp members 86 which are threadedly secured at 87 to the spindle 30 extend through openings 89 in the lift nut 73. Nuts 90 are threaded'onto the upper. ends of the studs 86 and tightly clamp the conical point 78 of the adjustment screw 77 in the recess 79, thus locking the lift nut 73 against axial movement.

As previously mentioned, the axial position of the pump shaft. 23 must be adjusted so that the impeller section of the pump sec an upward direction.

adjustment screw 7 7. The adjustment screw 77 is then rotated by the application of a sultable wrench to the head 93 thereof. To accomplish a. raising of the shaft 23, the adjustment screw 77 is advanced downwardly through the threaded'opening 76 of the lift member 73, which results in an upward advancement of the lift member 73. An upward movement of the lift member 73 moves the supporting'rods 68 upward which carry with them. the attachment ring 60. The shaft 23 being capable of axial movement relative to the spindle 30 is thereby moved in The opening 83 is aligned with a pair of slots 81, after which the cotter key 82 is replaced. The nuts 90 are then tightened in order to clamp the adjustment screw 77 in the conical recess 79 and to clamp the lift nut 73 from movement relative to the spindle 30.

The construction ofmy invention just described provides an arrangement whereby the pump shaft 23 may be axially adjusted from a place abovethe rotor 51 where it may be readily reached. My invention is a considerable improvement over the previous constructions. As previously mentioned, in old types of pump heads it is necessary to adjust the position of the pump shaft at a point below the motor, this being very tedious and inconvenient. The construction of my invention is adapted for accurate adjustment and includes means for positively clamping the various parts in a set position. There is absolutely no danger of the parts becoming unadjusted.

In Fig. 7 I showanother type of attachment member. lVith reference to this figure I may provide-a horseshoe-shaped attachment member 96 having an opening 97. The horseshoe 96 is installed in place from the side of the shaft 23, the inner portion thereof extending into the channel 61. The supporting rods 68 are threadedly secured in lugs 98. In this type it is possible to provide theattachment member in one piece, thus reducingcost of manufacture and time for inst allati on'.'

As shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 a hub portion 110 of an oil receptacle 111 surrounds the shaft 23 and is rigidly secured thereto by a set screw 112. p The oil receptacle 111 is secured, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, directly below the attachment member 60 and in the lower part of the oil chamber 31. The oil receptacle '111 has an oil pocket 114 which is confined at the upper part thereof by an inwardly projecting lip 115. An oil passage pipe 116 is secured at 117 to the bearing chamber member 20 in communication with an oil passage 118.. The lower end 119 of the oil passage tube 116 extends into the lower and outer part of the pocket 114. Extending from the upper end of the oil passage 118 is an oil pipe 120 which connects to a passage 121 extending through the upper part of the bearing chamber member 20. The pocket 114 is filled with oil, and when the pump shaft 23 rotates this oil is centrifugally thrown to the outer part of the pocket 114. Centrifugal force and the force of rotation of the oil in the pocket 114 causes this oil to forcefully flow through the oil passage tube 116 the passage 118, the oil pipe 120 and the passage 121 into the upper part of the bearing chamber 31. Oil flows through the radial bearing 34 and through the thrust bearing 41, thus lubricating these hearings. Some types of pump heads employ a bearing chamber which is filled with oil. This, however is not desirable in high speed pumps as the presence of a large body of oil interferes with the operation of the head. In my invention I confine the body of oil in the oil receptacle 111 and provide means whereby the oil is forcefully fed in a constant stream to the bearings 34 and 41. The size of the oil passages are such as to supply an amount of oil required to thoroughly lubricate these bearings. The construction shown in the drawings is simple and inexpensive and effective in operation.

I claim as my invention 1. A shaft adjusting mechanism comprising: a spindle; a shaft drivably attached to said spindle; supporting members extending through said spindle; an attachment member whereby said supporting members are attached to'said shaft; a lift member. for lifting said supporting members in order to move said shaft; an adjustment member whereby said lift member is moved; and means for locking said lift member against movement relative to said spindle.

2. A shaft adjusting mechanism comprising: a spindle; a shaft drivably attached to said spindle; supporting members extending through said spindle; an attachment member whereby said supporting members are attached to said shaft; a lift member for lifting said supporting members in order to move said shaft; an adjustment member engaging said lift member and the upper end of said spindle whereby said lift member is moved; and means for locking said lift member against movement relative to said spindle.

3. A shaft adjusting mechanism comprising: a spindle; a shaft drivably attached to said spindle; supporting members extending through said spindle; an attachment member whereby said supporting members shaft; an adjustment member whereby said lift member is moved; and means for locking said lift member against movement.

4. Ashaft adjusting mechanism comprise ing: a spindle; a shaft 'drivably attached to said spindle; supporting members extending through said spindle; an attachment member wherebysaid supporting members are attached to saidshaft; a lift member positioned above said spindle'for' liftingsaid supporting members in order to move said shaft; an ad ustmentmember engaging said lift memberand the upper end of said spindle whereby said lift. member is moved; and means for locking said lift member against movement relative to said spindle.

5. A shaft adjusting mechanism comprising: a spindle; a shaft drivably attached to said spindle; supporting rods extending longitudinally through said spindle; an attachment member secured to the lower ends of said supporting rods, said attachment memberfitting in a groove in the upper end of said shaft; a lift member placed above said spindle, said lift member being secured to said supporting rods in order to carry same;

and an adjustment member threadedly at- 2 above said spindle, said lift member being secured to said supporting rods in order to carry same; an adjustment-member threadedly attached to said lift member, said adj ustment member engaging said spindle and being operable to move said lift memberin a manner to change the position of said shaft; and means for clamping said lift member against movementrelative to said spindle.

7: As'haft adjusting mechanism comprising: a spindle; a shaft drivably attached to said'spindle; supporting membersfor supporting said shaft; and means engaging said spindle. and said supporting members for changing the position of said supporting members relative to said spindle whereby said shaft is moved.

8. A shaft adjusting mechanism comprising: a spindle; a shaft drivably. attached to said spindle; supporting members extending through said spindle; an attachmentchanging theposition-of said supporting members relative to said spindle whereby said shaft is moved.

9. A shaft adjusting mechanism comprising: a spindle; a shaft drivably attached to said spindle; supporting members extending throughsaid spindle; an attachment member whereby said supporting members are attached to said shaft; a lift member for lifting said supporting members in order to move said shaft; and means adapted to move said lift member whereby said shaft is moved.

10. A shaft adjusting mechanism comprising: a spindle; a shaft drivably attached to said spindle; supporting members extending through said spindle; an attachment member whereby said supporting members are attached to said shaft; a lift member for'lifting said supporting members in order to move said shaft; and an adjustment member whereby said lift member is moved.

11. A shaft adjusting mechanism comprising: a spindle; a shaft drivabl'y a tached to said spindle; supporting means; an attachment member whereby said supporting means is attached to said shaft; and means for changing the position of said supporting means relative to said spindle whereby said shaft is moved. 1

12. A shaft adjusting mechanism comprising: a spindle, a shaft drivably connected to said spindle, said shaft having an annular channel; an attachment member in said ann u-- lar channel, said attachment member being adjustable to Vary the position of said shaft relative to said spindle.

13. A combination as definedin claim 12 in which said attachment member completely surrounds said shaft, and is formed of two lap-jointed sections; I

14. A shaft adjusting mechanism comprising: a spindle; shaftextending into said spindle; supporting members extending through said spindle; an attachment member I whereby said supporting members are attached to said shaft; and means for changing the position of said supporting members relative to said spindle whereby said. shaft is moved.

15. A shaft adjusting mechanism, comprising: a spindle; a shaft extending into said spindle, said shaft having an annular chan-,

nel; an attachment member extending into said annular channel; and an adjustable supporting means extending through said spindle and secured to said attachment member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 25th day of May, 1925.

JOHN A. VINTROATH. 

